HB 1603 requires Oklahoma public schools to teach a specific human growth and development curriculum, including a high-definition ultrasound video showing fetal development and a computer animation of cell/organ growth. It mandates this content be delivered in an age-appropriate manner, with parents able to opt their child out using a state-prescribed form two weeks before instruction. The bill affects all public school students in grades 9-12, as completion of this curriculum is required for graduation with a standard diploma unless a parent opts out. Schools must integrate this into health or science courses and align it with state academic standards, effective November 1, 2025.
HB 1522 requires Oklahoma school districts to create and publicly post policies by January 1, 2022, defining how many transfer students they can accept per grade level at each school site. It limits students to two inter-district transfers per school year (except for those returning to their home district), allows automatic approval if a student’s home district doesn’t offer their grade level, and prohibits transfers based on unexcused absences (ten or more in a semester). Parents can appeal denials first to the district board and then to the State Board of Education if policies weren’t followed. The bill directly affects students seeking to transfer schools, their families, and school districts managing enrollment capacity.
HB 1523 would create a pilot program allowing Oklahoma public schools to offer virtual mental health services through telehealth. The State Department of Education must develop this program, with schools able to opt in by applying. Key provisions include requiring parental consent before services, limiting initial funding to $25,000, and defining "health benefit plan" per existing state law. The pilot aims to improve student mental health access without mandating participation. (Note: The bill was withdrawn from committee on February 19, 2025.)
HB 2917 creates the "Ag in the Classroom Program" under Oklahoma's State Department of Agriculture to educate students (pre-K through 12th grade) about agriculture in both urban and rural schools. It increases the fee for Agricultural Awareness license plates from $24 to $27, directing the extra $3 per plate into an Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund. The fund will support program expansion, particularly into urban areas, with the Department of Agriculture having exclusive control over the program and fund spending. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1946 prohibits Oklahoma school districts from offering teaching contracts shorter than one school year to certified teachers, except when a teacher is hired after the school year has begun. This applies to all standard teaching positions requiring state certification, ensuring minimum annual employment terms. The law prevents districts from using short-term contracts to avoid long-term obligations, requiring contracts to cover the full school year unless hired mid-year. Exceptions only apply if a teacher is hired after the school year starts, in which case the contract extends to the end of that school year.
HB 1538, the "Student Retention Protocol Act of 2025," requires Oklahoma schools to offer specific screenings and assessments to students identified as "at risk of being retained" (those below academic thresholds for advancing grades). It mandates hearing and vision screenings, family assessments, and, with parental consent, psychiatric, occupational, or physical therapy evaluations to address potential learning barriers before retention decisions. Schools may provide these services using qualified personnel or contracted professionals, but all provisions depend on available funding. The bill directly affects at-risk students, their families (who must approve psychiatric evaluations), and school districts, aiming to prevent retention through targeted support rather than changing retention policies themselves. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
